thesis

noun, plural the·ses [thee-seez] /ˈθi siz/.

1. a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections: He vigorously defended his thesis on the causes of war.
2. a subject for a composition or essay.
3. a dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, as one presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.
4. Music. the downward stroke in conducting; downbeat.Compare arsis(def 1).
5. Prosody.
   1. a part of a metrical foot that does not bear the ictus or stress.
   2. (less commonly) the part of a metrical foot that bears the ictus.Compare arsis(def 2).
6. Philosophy. See under Hegelian dialectic.

noun

1. an interpretive method, originally used to relate specific entities or events to the absolute idea, in which some assertible proposition (thesis) is necessarily opposed by an equally assertible and apparently contradictory proposition (antithesis), the mutual contradiction being reconciled on a higher level of truth by a third proposition (synthesis).

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

1. a dissertation resulting from original research, esp when submitted by a candidate for a degree or diploma
2. a doctrine maintained or promoted in argument
3. a subject for a discussion or essay
4. an unproved statement, esp one put forward as a premise in an argument
5. music the downbeat of a bar, as indicated in conducting
6. (in classical prosody) the syllable or part of a metrical foot not receiving the ictusCompare arsis
7. philosophy the first stage in the Hegelian dialectic, that is challenged by the antithesis

noun

1. philosophy an interpretive method in which the contradiction between a proposition (thesis) and its antithesis is resolved at a higher level of truth (synthesis)

n.late 14c., “unaccented syllable or note,” from Latin thesis “unaccented syllable in poetry,” later “stressed part of a metrical foot,” from Greek thesis “a proposition,” also “downbeat” (in music), originally “a setting down or placing,” from root of tithenai “to place, put, set,” from PIE root *dhe- “to put, to do” (see factitious). Sense in logic of “a proposition, statement to be proved” is first recorded 1570s; that of “dissertation written by a candidate for a university degree” is from 1650s. The central idea in a piece of writing, sometimes contained in a topic sentence.